logo
IND vs PAK: Brett Lee on cancelled India-Pakistan WCL clash - 'We pushed for it, but…'

IND vs PAK: Brett Lee on cancelled India-Pakistan WCL clash - 'We pushed for it, but…'

Time of India21-07-2025
The India vs Pakistan clash in the ongoing World Championships of Legends was cancelled.
The World Championship of Legends (WCL) match between India and
Pakistan
was called off after several former Indian players declined to participate, citing the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Former Australian cricketer
Brett Lee
addressed the cancellation during a press conference in Coventry, maintaining a neutral stance on the sensitive matter.
The WCL organizers confirmed the cancellation of the fixture scheduled to be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham through an official statement.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The decision came in response to the deteriorating relationship between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22.
When asked about the match cancellation, Brett Lee, representing Australia Champions, said: "That is a tough question.
But the thing I'll say right now is, I love India, I love Pakistan. So I hope that they can get to a discretion where they can appreciate themselves. But most importantly, we are here for a tournament. So Australia versus India versus South Africa — we are all inclusive. So what happened last night is what happened.
We pushed for it."
The WCL had initially announced the India-Pakistan fixture following a recent volleyball match between the two nations, aiming to create positive memories for fans.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched
Seeking Alpha
Read More
Undo
However, the decision backfired, leading to discomfort among Indian legends.
The organization issued an apology for any hurt sentiments and subsequently called off the match.
Former Indian player Dhawan revealed through an email to tournament organizers that the decision not to play against Pakistan had been communicated on May 11, considering the current geopolitical situation.
Dhawan later posted on X: "
Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon.
Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota.
" (I stand by the decision I took on May 11. My country is everything to me, and nothing is bigger than the country.)
In the previous edition of the WCL, India Champions had emerged victorious against Pakistan in the final, successfully chasing down a target of 157 runs to claim the title with a five-wicket win.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Indian team preparing hard for the Asia Cup, says HI president Tirkey
Indian team preparing hard for the Asia Cup, says HI president Tirkey

The Hindu

time10 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

Indian team preparing hard for the Asia Cup, says HI president Tirkey

It was a woefully disappointing performance by the Indian men's hockey team in the recently concluded FIH Pro League, having finished eighth among nine teams, with the side suffering seven successive losses in the European leg. Dilip Tirkey, president of Hockey India, admitted that it has been a sub-par performance by the team, but Hockey India is watching the squad's performance and welcomed the team management to share information about players' form. 'Yes, the team did not perform as expected in the Pro League. If the players are tired and if they are not able to play well [for some reason or other], I've asked the team management to let us know. If the senior players are not performing to their own standards, the selectors can take strict action. We have important tournaments like the World Cup (August 14 to 30, 2026) and the Asian Games (September 19 to Oct. 4, 2026) coming up,' Tirkey told The Hindu, on the sidelines of the National sub-junior men's hockey championships here on Monday. With the Asia Cup (to be held from August 27 to September 7) in Rajgir, Bihar, where a spot is reserved for the winner to the World Cup, Tirkey said the tournament carries a lot of weight. 'The Asia Cup is an important tournament. The team is preparing hard for it,' he said. The Junior men's World Cup to be held in Madurai and Chennai from November 28 to December 10, will be a huge success, with the support of the Tamil Nadu Government, said Tirkey. 'The Government has always supported hockey. Take for instance the 2007 Asia Cup and the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023,' he added. The decision to include 24 teams in the Junior World Cup, Tirkey claimed is to expand the base. 'The weaker teams will gradually gain interest and get better. FIH (International body for hockey) is doing it to promote the sport. One-sided matches happened even when the World Cup had 16 teams,' he said.

Trainer K.S.V. Prasad Raju joins the 1000 winners Club
Trainer K.S.V. Prasad Raju joins the 1000 winners Club

The Hindu

time10 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

Trainer K.S.V. Prasad Raju joins the 1000 winners Club

Veteran horse trainer K.S.V. Prasad Raju etched his name in the record books by joining the prestigious 1000 winners club, when he saddled Sangreal in the Bakhtawar Plate (Div. I) at Hyderabad on Monday (July 28). He commemorated the milestone in remarkable fashion with a splendid treble on the day. Prasad Raju, who saddled his first winner Golden Lad 1995, has steadily built a reputation as one of the most consistent professionals in Indian racing.

'This is just the start': Confident Divya Deshmukh sets sights on more success after FIDE Women's World Cup history
'This is just the start': Confident Divya Deshmukh sets sights on more success after FIDE Women's World Cup history

First Post

time10 minutes ago

  • First Post

'This is just the start': Confident Divya Deshmukh sets sights on more success after FIDE Women's World Cup history

Divya Deshmukh is not ready to rest on her laurels after creating chess history by winning the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. The newly-awarded Grandmaster is aiming for more and bigger victories. read more Divya Deshmukh became the first-ever Indian champion at the FIDE Women's World Cup tournament on Monday as she defeated compatriot Grandmaster at Batumi in Georgia. The 19-year-old from Nagpur, Divya, also earned the Grandmaster title as a result of winning the World Cup. She is the 88th Grandmaster from India and only the fourth female GM from the country. Also Read | How Divya outfoxed Humpy, scripted history by winning FIDE Women's Chess World Cup STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Divya's victory over Humpy came after they ended three matches in a draw. After the two Classical games failed to produce a result, the all-Indian final moved to the tiebreak on Monday. The first Rapid tiebreak also ended in a draw after 81 moves as Divya failed to capitalise on White pieces advantage. In the second Rapid tiebreak, Humpy lost control of her game and the White pieces' advantage after committing a couple of blunders under time pressure, handing over the edge to Divya, who clinched the final in 75 moves. How Divya defeated Humpy in tiebreak: As a result of her historic win, Divya was awarded the Grandmaster title and she would not be required to earn the three GM norms, which are needed to attain the title. Divya sets sights on more success after World Cup history Divya was naturally very emotional after the win as she ran to her mother. She broke down in tears and was consoled by her mother before gathering herself and giving a quick interview to FIDE. 'I definitely need to learn endgames,' was one of her initial reactions. Reflecting on the massive achievement of becoming a Grandmaster, Divya said, 'I think it was fate, me getting the grandmaster title this way. Before the tournament, I didn't even have one norm. I was thinking that I could maybe earn a grandmaster norm here. And at the end, I became a grandmaster.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She added that the World Cup victory is just the start of what hopefully would be a long and successful career. 'This means a lot, but there's a lot more to achieve. I'm hoping this is just the start.' Besides Humpy, Divya defeated three other GMs in the World Cup, including China's Zhu Jiner in the pre-quarterfinal, India's D Harika in the quarter-final and China's Tan Zhongyi in the semi-final. Divya earned a prize money of $50,000 (Rs 41.6 lakh) by winning the World Cup, while Humpy will be rewarded home $35,000 (Rs 29.1 lakh).

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store